The two dates
are universally known
to be bookends
etched into a tombstone.
It’s been said
the dash in between
those two dates
means everything.
When all is done,
I hope in my little dash is stored
these words from the good book,
“She did right in the sight of the Lord.”
We are each given
one life to go about and do.
What will your story
hidden that dash say about you?
© 2014 ck’s days
by Charles Teters
I have lived the life of a Man of the world,
I have seen all of its ups and downs,
I have shaken the hand of the fair weather friend,
I have seen fortunes, smiles, and frowns.
(for Bubba)
She can’t say
if it was love at first sight
but she will say
she fell in love with him alright.
She did insist –
with his red shirt down to there
who could resist
that yellow fluff-stuffed bear?
“I want to marry him,”
she told daddy her plan.
“You can’t marry him,
because he is an old man.
He is an old man,”
that was daddy’s firm stance,
“An old, old man
who doesn’t wear pants!
I can’t allow it.”
Daddy’s words made her blue.
But she had to accept it –
she’d never marry Winnie the Pooh.
© 2014 ck’s days
Reality:
1,000 praises
with 1 complaint hidden
in between.
For me:
1,ooo praises hidden
while that 1 complaint
is seen.
© 2014 ck’s days
This and other fine poems available on Amazon
There should have been a party today.
And there would have been one, too.
It would have been grand.
Friends and family would have gathered in the halls.
Some bearing gifts.
All bringing well wishes and memories.
All because of fifty years.
I mean, fifty years is a long time.
It can be a lifetime.
It’s longer than a lifetime for some.
All to commemorate a wedding
in a church
on July 25, 1964.
It would have been a great party.
Perhaps
she reminisces on her side of the veil
and is wished a happy anniversary
while he slowly twists the ring on his finger
and remembers
and is surrounded by muted tones.
Perhaps
there are tears on both sides of the veil today.
Well-earned tears.
Forty seven years together,
3 years separated
not by choice.
They earned those tears.
There should have been a party today.
I’m not perfect
this I know.
I’m in process –
room to grow.
The right words
I seldom find
the wrong words
come all the time.
Please be patient
with this girl you see
for she is still
learning how to be.
© 2014 ck’s days
This and other fine poems available at Amazon
I saw you there,
for just a moment,
before I passed.
You stood by your camper
in the middle of camp
giving instructions
to your family campers.
And for an instant,
a flash,
a thought –
I wonder,
I wonder if
that would have been me
standing by my camper
in the middle of camp
giving instructions
to my family campers.
For just a moment,
I thought I saw
a glimpse
a small peek
into what my life
would have been like
if I would have said
yes
twenty some years ago.
Would I,
could I have been
standing by my camper
in the middle of camp
giving instructions
to my family campers?
But the thought wisped away
like smoke from a dying fire.
If I had said yes,
I reminded myself,
twenty years ago
I probably would still not be
standing by my camper
in the middle of camp
giving instructions
to my family campers.
I would still be alone
driving down this road
because there was no
hesitation twenty years ago
behind the decline –
so why should there be
hesitation now?
I am in the right place.
Oh yeah.
Sometimes I forget
and I long for the day
I’m standing by my camper
in the middle of camp
giving instructions
to my family campers.
© 2014 ck’s days
I didn’t think I could do it.
I thought that I would fail.
To my surprise I did it.
I survived this dreadful tale.
I’m stronger than I thought.
I didn’t even fall.
But now around my heart
I had to build a wall.
I can survive anything.
But what will be the cost?
Is it worth remaining
if my soul is lost?
Is that the toll we pay
just for getting older?
The heart continues beating
but everyday grows colder.
© 2014 ck’s days
The river from the east
flowed down the countryside.
It said,
Born of a spring, I am clean
It takes work
to provide water for all in sight.
The animals drink from me
I give of myself freely.
I try to do the right.
ck's days 